Electronic pill box prefill system including a blister pack with a capacitive sensor

ABSTRACT

An electronic pill box having a housing with a base and grid and into which a blister pack is selectively engaged. The blister pack includes a plurality of vials prefilled with medication and sealed with a cover imprinted with pertinent information. Each vial is received in a chamber in the base having an LED and a sensor for determining whether medication has been removed therefrom. The LED and sensor are operatively engaged with a microprocessor including programming for dispensing medication from the pill box. An alert is issued if medication is not removed from an illuminated vial after a predetermined time interval. When all medication has been dispensed therefrom, the blister pack is replaced with another prefilled blister pack A card with patient information thereon may be provided on the prefilled blister pack and is detached and stored in the housing prior to loading the blister pack therein.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/965,966, filed Aug. 13, 2013, the entire specification of which isincorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Technical Field

This invention relates generally to pill boxes for storing severaldifferent medications. More particularly, this invention relates to anelectronic pill box. Specifically, this invention is directed to anelectronic pill box and a method of using the same where the pill boxincludes a housing having a base and a grid; and a blister packincluding a plurality of vials prefilled with medication, where thevials are positioned adjacent an illumination source and a sensorconnected to a microprocessor when the blister pack is engaged in thehousing.

Background Information

Doctors prescribe medication for patients suffering from a variety ofillnesses. One of the issues that is fairly common is that patientsfrequently do not follow the exact dosage regimen prescribed by thephysician. They will tend to forget to take a dose at a prescribed timeor will accidentally double up dosages when they can't remember if theytook the medication at the prescribed time. Because the prescribedregimen is not being followed, the healing which should occur throughaction of the medication on their body may be slowed or the patientcould actually put their health in jeopardy by overdosing themselves.

There have been attempts in the prior art to develop some type of systemto assist a patient in keeping prescribed medication regimens. Forexample, U.S. Pat. No. 3,762,601 (McLaughlin) discloses a cabinet thathas several independent vials into which individual doses of medicationare placed. The cabinet includes some type of timing mechanism whichautomatically opens a locking mechanism engaged with a door to aparticular vial when a preset time arrives. The locking mechanisms aretimed for a twenty four hour period and the system includes a mainsignal light on the side of the cabinet to alert a caregiver that it istime to dispense medication to the patient. A keyed master-door blocksaccess to individual vial doors. A light is also associated with eachvial in the cabinet and, if a vial is unlocked, the associated lightwill be illuminated to indicate the unlocked condition of the vial. Thedownfall with this system is that the master door has to be unlocked bya person other than the patient, such as a nurse. If the nurse does notunlock the master door then there will be no access to the unlockedvial. If the master door is unlocked and a vial door is automaticallyunlocked and opened at the preset time and the patient is not in anycondition to access the medicine in the vial, that medicine could beaccessed by other persons, such as children. Additionally, this type ofcabinet is not designed to be carried around by the patient. It isconfigured to be mounted permanently on a wall, for example.

Hicks (U.S. Pat. No. 4,275,384) discloses a portable medicine cabinetwith a computerized timer. Predetermined time intervals are entered intothe computerized timer. The timer is connected to an indicator mechanismthat indicates the predetermined time intervals and which of themedicines should be removed from vials within the cabinet. Each vial inthe cabinet is cylindrical in shape and has a hinged door positioned toclose off access to the vial. A means for entering time into thecomputer is provided on the cabinet. The computer generates an outputsignal when a present time is reached and this signal causes a signallight provided on the exterior surface of the cabinet proximate a vialto become illuminated. This lets the patient know which medicine totake. The cabinet also includes a screen for displaying time and adigital number for the vial to be accessed. The cabinet also includes abuzzer to alert the patient that it is time to take a medicine from theindicated vial.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,382,688 (Machamer) discloses a portable medicaldispenser that includes a door which is retained in a closed position byway of a latch. The system includes a timer and an electronic memory.When a preset time is reached an audible alarm is sounded to notify theuser that it is time to take a medication within the dispenser. Thealarm may also include a flashing of the time display on the dispenser.A switch is mounted adjacent the door latch to detect when the door isopened. A disarming mechanism is provided and is capable of beingprogrammed to disarm the alarm for a particular period. This is utilizedwhen the portable dispenser is used for retaining birth control pillsand no reminders to the user are needed for several days each month. Theelectronic memory cannot be altered by the user.

Urquhart (U.S. Pat. No. 4,748,600) discloses a dispenser that controlsdoses of pharmaceuticals to a patient. The dispenser includes a centralprocessing unit that is programmed with an initial dosing regimen and isable to record and monitor dispensing of pharmaceuticals from thedispenser. The dispenser includes a timer and means for recording theactual times medicines are dispensed and for calculating discrepanciesbetween the prescribed dispensing time and the actual dispensing time.The dispenser further includes a means for calculating a dosingcorrection factor for the patient based on the information gathered bythe dispenser. The dispenser includes a display screen for displayinginformation it gathers and calculates. The patient is able to inputinformation into the dispenser to be used in the various calculationsperformed by the dispenser. The dispenser is also equipped to provide aphysician with information regarding any deviations in the dosingregimen.

Raven (U.S. Pat. No. 5,020,037) discloses a pill box that includes atimer to track time and an alarm to notify a patient when to takemedication retained within the pill box at particular preset times. Thealarm is deactivated when a door to a vial in the pill box is opened.The pill box includes an electronic memory that records each time thealarm is canceled and a display screen capable of displaying therecorded information. The times set in the timer can only be adjusted ifthe door to a vial is in the open position.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,099,463 to Lloyd et al discloses a medicine dispenserthat includes a timer and a display for indicating the time at which aparticular medicine should be taken and for giving the patient visualinstructions. The dispenser is configured so that the medication can bekept in the original containers provided by a pharmacist. The dispenseris programmed to queue the medications so that they are able to be takenin the correct sequence. Sensors are provided in the various vials ofthe dispenser to verify that medication containers are returned to thedispenser after use. An alarm system is also provided in the dispenserto alert the patient that it is time to take a medicine from one of thevials. The alarm system generates a sound and/or illuminates a light toalert the patient that action must be taken.

Kehr et al (U.S. Pat. No. 5,200,891) discloses a medication dispenserhaving a programmable microprocessor and a number of vials, each ofwhich may store medication. A signaling system is provided to alert thepatient to the fact that medication should be taken, to identify whichvial the medication should be removed from; and the quantity ofmedication that is to be taken at that specific time. An alarm willsound if the designated vial is not opened within a certain period oftime. The alarm is disarmed if the vial door is opened. The dispenserincludes a display screen for displaying pertinent information. Thedevice also includes a means for the patient to program themicroprocessor.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,850,937 (Rauche) discloses a dispenser that is capableof alerting a patient that it is time to take a medication from one of aplurality of vials. The dispenser includes a real-time clock fortracking time and a memory for storing times for taking medication.There is also an input for entering the times to be stored in the memoryand an alarm system that is activated when the tracked real timecorresponds to the stored time for taking medication. The dispenserhousing is transparent so that a medication summary sheet retainedwithin a vial is visible when the vial is closed. There are mountingdevices within the vials for retaining an inhaler in a particularorientation therein. The door for each vial is locked into placed by anelectronic mechanism and the door can only be moved to an open positionwhen the electronic mechanism is deactivated. The dispenser alsoincludes a real-time clock, a display, a push-button matrix for enteringa code sequence, a buzzer, a light, and a vibratory mechanism; the lastthree components being provided to selectively alert a patient that itis time to take a medication from the dispenser. The dispenser alsoincludes a programmable memory and control means for controlling variouscomponents that make up the dispenser.

Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 6,048,087 (Laurent et al) discloses an electronicpill box that includes multiple vials for retaining doses of medicinetherein. The pill box includes a microprocessor that can haveprescription data inputted therein. A display is provided on the deviceand each vial has a pill dispenser that is adapted to dispensepharmaceuticals of various forms and sizes therefrom. An automaticcontroller associated with each vial controls medication movement fromthe vial. Data can be loaded into the microprocessor by a detachabledata medium. The system also includes a detector associated with eachvial and the memory records the withdrawal of pills from each vial. Themicroprocessor includes a counter responsive to the detector forcounting down the pills dispensed from the vial. This enables thepatient to determine the remaining number of medications in each vial.The vials are selectively detachable from the dispenser and thedispenser's controller is capable of determining how many vials areengaged with the dispenser's housing at any time.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

While all of the above medication dispensers provide various levels ofalerts and monitor the dispensing of medication to various degrees,there remains a need in the art for a medication dispenser with animproved reminder system.

An electronic pill box having a housing with a base and grid and intowhich a blister pack is selectively engaged is disclosed herein. Theblister pack includes a plurality of vials prefilled with medication andsealed with a cover imprinted with pertinent information. Each vial isreceived in a chamber in the base having an LED and a sensor fordetermining whether medication has been removed therefrom. The LED andsensor are operatively engaged with a microprocessor includingprogramming for dispensing medication from the pill box. An alert isissued if medication is not removed from an illuminated vial after apredetermined time interval. When all medication has been dispensedtherefrom, the blister pack is replaced with another prefilled blisterpack A card with patient information thereon may be provided on theprefilled blister pack and is detached and stored in the housing priorto loading the blister pack therein. This card may be used as areference for a caregiver to help them ensure that medication is beinggiven to the correct patient and to determine where to reordermedication or what steps should be taken if the patient exhibits areaction to the medication. Any other relevant information may beprovided on this card.

In one aspect the invention may provide a medication reminder andcompliance system comprising a pill box including a housing; amicroprocessor including programming that includes a reminder scheduleand a real time tracker;

a blister pack selectively receivable within the housing; said blisterpack including a plurality of vials, each vial being prefilled withmedication; and a plurality of sensors provided in the housing, whereineach sensor is located so as to be positioned adjacent a different oneof the vials of the blister pack when received within the housing; andwherein each sensor is operatively engaged with the microprocessor.

In another aspect, the invention may provide a method of dispensingmedication to a patient comprising providing a pill box including ahousing comprising a base and a grid engageable with the base; and amicroprocessor including programming that includes a reminder scheduleand a real time tracker; providing a blister pack having a plurality ofvials defined therein with at least some of the vials being prefilledwith medication; and having a cover extending across openings to theplurality of vials, said cover having lines of weakness proximate eachvial; positioning the blister pack in the base; engaging the grid withthe base; capturing the blister pack between the grid and the base; andactivating the microprocessor to initiate the reminder schedule.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

A preferred embodiment of the invention, illustrated of the best mode inwhich Applicant contemplates applying the principles, is set forth inthe following description and is shown in the drawings and isparticularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appendedclaims.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a medication reminder and compliancesystem in accordance with an aspect of the invention, said systemincluding an electronic pill box that is utilized by a patient, wherethe pill box is illustrated in a closed position;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the pill box in a closed position;

FIG. 3 is a right side view of the pill box in a closed position;

FIG. 4 is a front view of the pill box in a closed position;

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the pill box and prefilledblister pack in accordance with an aspect of the invention;

FIG. 6 is a first perspective view of the pill box in a second position;showing the pill box in an open position and without a prefilled blisterpack loaded therein;

FIG. 7 is an enlargement of the highlighted region of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a second perspective view of the pill box in an open positionand with the prefilled blister pack exploded therefrom;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the prefilled blister pack shown with apatient information card attached thereto;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the prefilled blister pack of FIG. 9with the patient information card detached therefrom;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the pill box in a closed position andshowing the prefilled blister pack loaded therein; and showing thepatient information card being positioned for storage within the base ofthe pill box;

FIG. 12 is a bottom perspective view of the pill box of FIG. 11 with thepatient information card partially retained in a storage frame of thepill box;

FIG. 13 is a top view of the pill box with information regarding thepatient and dosing instructions removed from the blister pack so thatthe shape of the various components may be more readily seen;

FIG. 14 is a longitudinal cross section of the pill box taken along line14-14 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 14a is an enlargement of the highlighted region of FIG. 14;

FIG. 15 is a lateral cross-section of the pill box taken along line15-15 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15a is an enlargement of the highlighted region of FIG. 15; and

FIG. 16 is a top view of the pill box with the prefilled blister packand interior coating layer removed therefrom and showing the capacitancesensing loops on the printed circuit board.

Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-16 there is shown an electronic pill box, generallyindicated at 10. Pill box 10 is used in a medication reminder andcompliance system such as the system disclosed in U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 13/965,966 filed Aug. 13, 2013 from which thepresent application claims priority or the system disclosed in U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/966,037, filed Aug. 13, 2013 (hereinafterapplications '966 and '037) The entire specifications of both ofapplications '966 and '037 are incorporated herein by reference.Applications '966 and '037 are commonly owned. Applications '966 and'037 disclose in detail how an electronic pill box is contemplated to beused to issue reminders to a patient or a patient's caregiver when toremove medication from the electronic pill box; and furthermore disclosein detail how the electronic pill box will issue reminders, alerts andalarms if it is determined medication has not be removed from the pillbox at a pre-programmed intervals. The pill box 10 disclosed herein iscontemplated to be used in the same fashion and therefore the actualreminder and alert functions will not be disclosed in greater detail.The system disclosed herein discloses a new way or installing medicationinto the electronic pill box and a new way of determining whethermedication has been removed therefrom.

Pill box 10 in accordance with an aspect of the present invention is anelectronic pill box that may be able to be connected via Wi-Fi,Bluetooth technology or any other type of communication system to anelectronic device, portable or otherwise, that is used by a patient orby a patient's caregiver, or by a hospital or clinic or other medicalinstitution which may be treating the patient. Suitable devices used bythe patient, the patient's caregiver, the hospital or clinic include butare not limited to cell phones, smartphones, computers, tablets, andpaging systems.

Applications '966 and '037 disclose a pill box having compartments withopenable doors. These pill boxes need to have the patient or a caregiverplace the various doses of medication (typically in the form of a pill)into the various compartments and then close those doors. The pill boxis then actuated so that electronically controlled reminders will beissued at the relevant times. These reminders help remind the patient totake a dose of medication from a specific compartment that ishighlighted by illumination of the same. The patient or caregiver opensthe relevant door to access the medication. If the door is not opened ina timely fashion, the system generates an alert that is then sent to alinked electronic device of the patient, caregiver, hospital or clinic.Those linked electronic devices may include a smartphone, computer etc.The pill box may also include an audible alarm for warning appropriatepersons that a dose of medication needs to be taken.

The pill box disclosed herein is utilized in a similar fashion as it islinkable to an electronic device of the patient or of a caregiver suchas a smartphone, computer etc. Pill box 10 differs from the pill boxdisclosed in applications '966 and '037 in that pill box 10 comprises ahousing 12 and a separate blister pack 14. Blister pack 14 iseffectively a tray that is prefilled with medication and is sealed. Thefilling and sealing of blister pack 14 may occur in a factory or in apharmacy or any other suitable location and the prefilled and sealedblister pack or a plurality of prefilled and sealed blister packs 14 aremarked up with information relating to a specific patient (as will belater described herein) and are shipped and/or delivered to the patient,a caregiver, or hospital or clinic.

When received by the patient or caregiver, the housing 12 is moved to anopen position and the prefilled and sealed blister pack 14 isselectively loaded into the housing 12. The housing 12 is closed andlatched into place and is then available for use. The manner ofprefilling the blister pack 14, loading the prefilled blister pack 14into housing 12, latching blister pack 14 into place, dispensingmedication from the blister pack 14 while retained in the housing 12,and the manner of reminding the patient or caregiver to dispense aparticular dose from pill box 10 will be further described herein.

Referring still to FIGS. 1-16 and particularly to FIG. 5, housing 12 abase comprising a bottom region 16 and a top region 32 and a grid 18that is engaged with the base. Lower region 16 includes a bottom wall 16a (FIG. 5) and a peripheral wall 16 b that extends outwardly andupwardly from a perimeter of bottom wall 16 a. Bottom wall 16 a andperipheral wall 16 b bound and define a compartment 16 c. A generallysemi-circular depression 16 d is defined in a front region of peripheralwall 16 b. A plurality of feet 16 e extends outwardly and downwardlyfrom an exterior surface of bottom wall 16 a. Feet 16 e, when placed ona surface, will hold bottom wall 16 a a short distance above thesurface. As best seen in FIG. 12, a U-shaped frame 16 f is provided onthe exterior surface of bottom wall 16 a. A gap 16 g is defined betweenthe exterior surface of bottom wall 16 a and an interior surface offrame 16 f. Frame 16 f may open toward (i.e., be accessible from) thefront region of peripheral wall 16 b or in any other direction. Thepurpose of frame 16 f and gap 16 g will be described later herein.

A printed circuit board (PCB) 20 is received in compartment 16 c oflower region 16. PCB 20 includes a flat sheet 20 a onto which aplurality of components are mounted. Sheet 20 a is sized to be receivedwithin compartment 16 c and to be positioned adjacent the interiorsurface of bottom wall 16 a of lower region 16. The first componentsmounted on sheet 20 a of PCB 20 are a plurality of capacitance sensingloops 22 (FIGS. 5, 6 and 14-16) or sensors that utilize a CRS input.Each sensing loop 22 comprises a wire trace loop positioned on anexterior surface of the PCB 20 and generally parallel thereto. Each loop22 may be formed into a generally U-shaped configuration (FIG. 16).Sensing loops 22 may be arranged in rows and columns on PCB 20 andcovered by some type or protective film to protect them. (FIG. 16 showsthe configuration of the various sensing loops 22 with that protectivefilm removed so that the loops 22 may be more readily seen.) FIG. 16shows that loops 15 are arranged in four columns and seven rows. WhenPCB 20 is engaged in lower region 16 the columns extend from the frontregion of lower region 16 toward the back thereof and the rows extendfrom one side region of the lower region 16 to the other. It will beunderstood that while PCB 20 is illustrated as having twenty-eight loops22 therein, a different numbers of loops 22 may be utilized instead. Thenumber of loops 22 utilized in PCB 20 is dictated by the blister pack 14which is to be engaged therewith.

A second type of component mounted onto PCB 20 is a plurality of LEDS(light emitting diodes) 24. Each LED 24 is positioned proximate one ofthe sensing loops 22. LEDs 24 may be arranged so that each LED 24 islocated between a pair of adjacent sensing loops 22. LEDs 24 aretherefore also arranged in a pattern and may be provided in rows andcolumns that substantially match the rows and columns of sensing loops22. As a result, twenty-eight LEDs 24 are provided on PCB 20. Again, thenumber of LEDs 24 utilized in pill box 10 is dictated by the blisterpack 14 which is to be engaged with housing 12. LEDs 24 may be mountedso that they extend vertically upwardly from the flat exterior surfaceof PCB 20. LEDs 24 may emit multi-colored light or may emit a singlecolor of light.

Additional components that may be provided on PCB 20 are anaccelerometer 26, a SIM card 28 (i.e., a Subscriber Identity Modulecard) and a central processing unit (CPU) 30. CPU 30 includes amicroprocessor and programming relating to the medication reminder andcompliance system and to the operation of the various components of thatsystem. Loops 22, LEDs 24, accelerometer 26 and SIM card 28 are alloperatively engaged with CPU 30. Accelerometer 26 detects movement ofpill box 10. If, for example, pill box 10 is picked up, theaccelerometer 26 will detect that movement and sensing by the loops 22is then halted until pill box 10 is stable and stationary once again.SIM card 28 enables bi-directional direct communication of pill box 10with a remote electronic device such as a cell phone, a smartphone, apersonal computer, a tablet, or a pager by way of cellular, Wi-Fi orBluetooth technology. Other components may also be mounted on PCB 20 andoperatively engaged with CPU 30. For example, a speaker for generatingan alarm or warning sound may be mounted on PCB 20 or on some other partof housing 12.

Housing 12 further comprises a top region 32 that is designed to fitonto lower region 16 and close off access to compartment 16 c. Topregion 32 thereby protects PCB 20 and the components engaged therewith.Top region 32 also provides a platform for receiving and supportingblister pack 14 within housing 12. Referring to FIG. 5, top region 32includes a top wall 32 a and a peripheral wall 32 b that extendsoutwardly and downwardly from top wall 32 a. Peripheral wall 32 b iscomplementary in size to the interior length and width of peripheralwall 16 b of lower region 16 and is designed to fit onto lower region 16so that peripheral walls 32 b and 16 b are substantially flush. Aplurality of discrete chambers 34 are provided in top wall 32 a andextend into compartment 16 c. Each chamber 34 extends outwardly anddownwardly from a lower or interior surface of top wall 32 a. Thesechambers 34 may be oriented in substantially parallel rows and spacedlaterally from each other. Top wall 32 a defines an opening 36 to eachchamber 34. Chambers 34 and thereby the openings 36 thereto may bearranged in a plurality of rows and columns. As illustrated in FIG. 5,there may be four rows of seven chambers 34 extending downwardly fromtop wall 32 a and therefore four rows of seven openings 36 defined intop wall 32. An inner side surface of each chamber 34 defines adepression 38 therein that is complementary in shape and size to atleast part of one of the LEDs 24. When PCB 20 is located within lowerregion 16 and top region 32 is engaged with lower region 16, each LED 24is received within a depression 38 of one of the plurality of chambers34. The LEDs 24 may be multi-colored LEDs and are positioned in such away within the chambers 34 that light emitted therefrom is substantiallyprevented from shining into the surrounding chambers 34. In other words,light from one LED 24 will not spill over into adjacent chambers 34.Thus, when a blister pack 14 is engaged with housing 12 an illuminatedLED 24 will only illuminate a specific region of that blister pack 14and thereby indicate to a patient or caregiver which part of the pack 14to access for a next dose of medication. The light of an illuminated LED24 is sufficiently strong enough to shine through the portion of theblister pack 14 within a particular chamber 34 and thereby be visible tothe patient or caregiver. FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate how the LED's 24are arranged so that the light thereof is blocked off from adjacentopenings 36 and thus only serve to illuminate the particular chamber 34within which a particular LED 24 is located.

A section of the PCB 20 including one of the loops 22 is locatedadjacent a bottom region of each chamber 34. In this way each loop 22 isonly able to detect the presence or absence of medication in thespecific chamber below which the loop 22 is located.

Top region 32 defines a slot 32 c in a curved front region of peripheralwall 32 b. Slot 32 c is generally centrally located within the frontregion and is vertically aligned with depression 16 d in lower region 16when top region 32 and lower region 16 are engaged with each other. Topregion 32 further includes a control panel region 40 that is on anopposite side of top region 32 from slot 32 c. Control panel region 40is of a greater thickness than the rest of top region 32 and defines afirst slot 40 a (FIG. 5) for an LCD display 42; a pair of holes 40 b, 40c for control buttons 44, 46. LCD display 42 will display messagesgenerated by CPU 30 thereon. These messages may include dosinginstructions, reminders or warnings for the patient or caregiver.Although not illustrated herein, pill box 10 may also include a devicefor generating audible alarms that is linked to CPU 30. When remindersor warnings are sent by the CPU 30 to display 42, an audible reminder orwarning sound may also be generated to alert the patient or caregiver.The sounds aid in prompting the patient or caregiver to read informationdisplayed on display 42. CPU 30 will also cause individual LEDs 28 to beilluminated to visually indicate which part of pill box 10 to access inorder to take a next dose of the medication retained therein.

A plurality of slots 32 d is defined at intervals along a side region oftop region 32. Each slot 32 d is laterally aligned with a row ofopenings 36 and receives one of a plurality of lightpipes 48 therein.Pill box 10 is provided with a power supply and, as illustrated in FIG.5, that power supply may comprise one or more batteries 50 that arehoused beneath the raised control panel region 40 and are operativelyengaged with all of the components within pill box 10 that requirepower. Wiring between batteries 50 and the components that requirepower, such as lightpipes 48, is omitted for clarity of illustration. Aplurality of depressions 32 e (FIGS. 5 and 6) is defined in top wall 32a at the base of control panel region 40. Depressions 32 e are spaced adistance apart from each other and are aligned laterally. Curved frontregion of peripheral wall 32 b further defines a recess 32 f (FIG. 5)therein. Recess 32 f extends for substantially the entire length of thefront region and slot 32 c is defined within a generally central area ofrecess 32 f.

As indicated earlier herein, pill box 10 further comprises a capturegrid 18 that is pivotally engaged with top region 32. Grid 18 comprisesa wall 52 having an exterior surface 52 a (FIG. 5) and an interiorsurface 52 b (FIG. 8). Wall 52 defines a plurality of apertures 52 ctherein which extend between exterior and interior surfaces 52 a, 52 bof wall 52. Each aperture 52 c is positioned to align with one ofopenings 36 in top region 32 when grid 18 is moved to a closed positionrelative to lower region 16, 32. over top wall 32 a. The closed positionis illustrated in FIG. 1.

Grid 18 includes a plurality of flanges 52 d (FIG. 5) that extendoutwardly and downwardly from interior surface 52 b of wall 52. Flanges52 d are laterally aligned with each other and spaced a distance apart.Each flange 52 d is configured to be received in one of the depressions32 e defined in top wall 32 a of top region 32. Flanges 52 d areconfigured to interlock within the associated complementary depressions32 e and in such a way that grid 18 may be rotated about an axisextending along the laterally aligned flanges 52 d. This interlockingengagement between grid 18 and top region 32 enables lid to pivot in themanner indicated by arrow “A” in FIG. 6 between the open position (FIG.6) and the closed position (FIG. 1). A closure sensor 54 (FIG. 7) isprovided adjacent the region where grid 18 is pivotally engaged with topwall 32 a. Closure sensor 54 is provided to indicate when grid 18 is ina fully closed position. Closure sensor 54 is in electroniccommunication with CPU 30.

A front region 52 e of grid 18 is convexly curved and is complementaryto the curved front region of peripheral wall 32 b of top region 32. Thefront region 52 e of grid 18 is configured to be received in recess 32 fwhen grid 18 is pivoted into the closed position. A latching mechanism52 f is provided centrally on front region 52 e. Latching mechanism 52 fis configured to be received in slot 32 e of top region 32 and therebylatch grid 18 to top region 32, capturing blister pack 14 therebetween.Latching mechanism 52 f overhangs slot 32 c and depression 16 d and theslot and depression 32 c, 16 d therefore provide a placed on pill box 10where a person may insert a fingertip to raise grid 18. Closure sensor54 detects when grid 18 is closed and latched and transmits thisinformation to CPU 30. Latching the grid 18 to top region 32 and lowerregion 16 helps to hold blister pack 14 in close proximity to sensingloops 22 on PCB 20. This ensures that more accurate sensing by sensingloops 22 may take place. The latching of grid 18 also more firmlysupports the flimsier blister pack 14 when pack 14 is contacted by thepatient or caregiver to remove medication therefrom. When grid 18 isclosed and latched then the pill box 10 is activated as a remindersystem.

Grid 18 is provided with a plurality of indicia or markings thereon.First indicia, represented by the reference number 56, are each providedon exterior surface 52 a of wall 52 in a position that aligns the firstindicia 56 with one of the columns of apertures 52 c. Second indicia,represented by the reference number 58, are each provided on exteriorsurface 52 a of wall 52 in a position that aligns the second indicia 58with one of the rows of apertures 52 c. First indicia 56 may represent atime of day for taking medication as is indicated by the terms“Morning”, “Noon”, “Dinner” and “Bedtime” marked on grid 18. Differentfirst indicia 56 may be utilized such as actual times such as “6 am”,“12 pm” etc. Second indicia 58 may represent days of the week. Asillustrated on grid 18, second indicia 58 may include the first letterof each day of the week such as “S” for Sunday, “M” for Monday etc.Alternatively, the full word for the day of the week may be provided asthe second indicia 58. As indicated earlier herein, lightpipes 48 arelaterally aligned with a row of openings 36. Consequently, since secondindicia 58 are also aligned with a row of openings 36, a lightpipe 48 isaligned with each of the second indicia 58. When pill box 10 isactivated and a preset time arrives for taking medication from one ofthe chambers 34 (as will be hereinafter described), the associatedlightpipe 48 will become illuminated to indicated to the user which rowof medication they are to access for that day. Although not illustratedherein it will be understood that lightpipes may also be provided whichalign with each column of openings 36 and thereby with first indicia 56.In that instance when it is a specific preset time of day for takingmedication, the appropriate lightpipe associated with the relevant firstindicia 56 will become illuminated so that the user can determine whichchamber 34 to open to access their medication for that time of day.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, pill box 10 isfilled with medication by engaging a prefilled blister pack 14 withhousing 12. Blister pack 14 is shown in greater detail in FIGS. 5, 8, 9and 10. Blister pack 14 comprises a tray 60 and a cover 62. Tray 60 maybe molded from plastic and comprises a top wall 60 a (FIGS. 14 and 15)into which a plurality of individual vials 60 b are formed. Blister pack14 may be provided with twenty-eight vials 60 b that are arranged intofour columns and seven rows. Blister pack 14 may therefore be pre-loadedwith sufficient medication for twenty-eight dosing events, one for eachvial 60 b. It will be understood that blister pack 14 and the pill box10 with which it is designed to be engaged, may be configured to havefewer than twenty-eight vials 60 b or more than twenty-eight vials 60 band thereby be able to contain less or more medication for fewer or moredosing events.

Vials 60 b are shaped and sized to be received within the complementarynumber of openings 36 defined in top wall 32 a of top region 32. When soreceived, the top wall 60 a of blister pack 14 is located adjacentexterior surface of top wall 32 a. Vials 60 b extend downwardly throughopenings 36 and into chambers 34, such that the lowermost part of eachvial 60 b is positioned adjacent one of the loops 22 on PCB 20. Vials 60b may have a U-shaped profile (see FIGS. 14 and 15) and therefore have arounded bottom region. This shape ensures that the medication 68retained within vial 60 b is retained within a tighter area of vial 60 band is thus also more closely positioned proximate the associated loop22 on PCB 20. This placement enhances the sensing ability of loop 22 todetect if medication is retained in the associated vial 60 b.

Blister pack 14 is provided with a cover 62 that extends across theopenings to all the vials 60 b. First lines of weakness 64 are definedin each of the top wall 60 a and cover 62 of blister pack 14. Secondlines of weakness 66 are provided in cover 62 only and these secondlines of weakness 66 are aligned with the portion of the top wall 60 awhich defines an opening to each vial 60 b. So, the user may break oneor more covered vials 60 b from blister pack 14 by tearing top wall 60 aand cover 62 along first lines of weakness 64. First lines of weakness64 enable a user to separate one or more vials 60 b from a remainingportion of blister pack 14. If the user opens grid 18 and detaches a“day tray” i.e., a row of four vials 60 b, from blister pack 14 bytearing along first lines of weakness 64, then CPU 30 will detect thatgrid 18 has been lifted as closure sensor 54 will be triggered. CPU 30will also detect via loops 22 that an entire row of blister pack 14 ismissing and will send alerts to the patient or caregiver when each doseof medication from that day pack is to be taken. So, for example, CPU 30will send a notification to the patient or caregiver's smartphone thatthe morning pill should be taken. CPU 30 will also receive and processconfirmation signals from the patient or caregiver's smartphone that themorning pill has been taken.

The user may remove a specific portion of cover 62 from over a singlevial 60 b by tearing cover 62 along second lines of weakness 66 in orderto access one or more pills 68 (FIGS. 14 and 15) or other medicationretained within the associated vial 60 b by the specific portion ofcover 62. The rounded shape of each vial 60 b makes it easier for thepatient or caregiver to access medication 68 within the vials 60 b. Whenthe patient or caregiver pushes downwardly on the portion of cover 62closing off the opening to a particular vial 60 b, that portion of cover62 will tear along the associated second lines of weakness 66. Thepatient or caregiver's finger will then slide along the rounded shape ofthe associated opened vial 60 b until contact is made with themedication 68 within that vial. The medication, i.e., pills 68, iseasier to remove from the vial 60 b because vial 60 b is free of cornersand presents an smooth curved interior surface.

As best seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, cover 62 may be imprinted with relevantinformation 70 that is positioned to visible through apertures 52 c ingrid 18 once blister pack 14 has been loaded into housing 12. Theinformation 70 on cover 62 may relate to the medication contained withineach vial 60 b, the name of the patient, dosing instructions, aprescribing physician, and/or a dispensing pharmacy. So, for example,the information 70 may include the name of the patient and possibly apicture of the patient, the name of the medication within that vial 60b, the date and time the medication 68 is to be taken and whether totake pills 68 contained therein with food or water. The information 70may also include a picture of the pills that should be loaded within aparticular vial. All of this information serves to verify to the patientor caregiver what should be taken and when that medication should betaken. This aids in preventing dosing errors.

FIGS. 9 and 10 show how the blister pack 14 may be received prior toloading of the same into pill box 10. These figures show cover 62 mayinclude an extension that is usable as an identification card 72. Card72 extends outwardly beyond one end of tray 60. A third line of weakness74 (FIG. 10) may be provided between card 72 and the rest of cover 62.When blister pack 14 is shipped, card 72 may be folded about the thirdline of weakness 74 so that the card 72 is positioned adjacent anexterior surface of cover 62. Card 72 aids in preventing the portions ofcover 62 that extend over vials 60 b from being accidentally punctured.Once received by the patient or caregiver, card 72 may be detached fromblister pack 14 by tearing along third line of weakness 74. Card 72 mayinclude information 76 relating to the patient to whom the medicationwithin blister pack 14 is to be dispensed, as well as dosinginformation, pharmacy contact information and emergency contactinformation. Any other relevant information may also be providedthereon. After card 72 is detached from blister pack 14, card 72 may beslid into the frame 16 f on the underside of lower region 16. This isillustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12. Card 72 may be kept in frame 16 f incase a caregiver or the patient needs to reference the information 76contained thereon. The rest of blister pack 14 is then inserted intohousing 12, grid 18 is closed and latched and then pill box 10 may beused.

CPU 30, which is operatively engaged with loops 22, constantly monitorsthe contents of vials 60 b and can therefore detect if even one pill isremoved from a particular vial 60 b but other pills are left behind inthat same vial. If this situation occurs, CPU 30 will generate a signalto cause an alarm to go off so as to alert the patient or a caregiver.An informational message may be displayed on display 42 alerting thepatient or caregiver to the fact that some medication has not beenremoved from blister pack 14. An alert may also be transmitted to anelectronic device connected to the pill box 10 via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth.Sounds or flashing lights may also be set off by CPU 30. When a fingeris inserted into a particular vial 60 b, the increased downward pressureis sensed by the associated loop 22 and that large signal change isdetected by CPU 30. The signal change is interpreted by the CPU 30 asconfirmation that medication 68 has likely been removed from that vial60 b.

When all of the medication 68 of blister pack 14 has been removed thengrid 18 is opened, the empty blister pack 14 is removed from housing 12and a new and prefilled blister pack is inserted into housing 12. If anew blister pack 14 is not installed within the housing 12 by the timethe patient needs to take their next dose of medication, the CPU 30 willsend an alert to the patient or caregiver's linked electronic device.Failure to load the new blister pack 14 within predetermined times willcause CPU 30 to generate escalating warnings to the patient and/orcaregiver. CPU 30 will also cause an audible alarm to be triggered sothat pill box 10 will beep for example. A message to load a new blisterpack 14 will also be generated and displayed on LCD display 42.

In addition to the medication 68 retained within blister pack 14, CPU 30may be programmed to remind a patient when to use or take othermedication that is not kept within pill box 10. For example, the patientmay be required to use an inhaler or a medicated cream. CPU 30 may beprogrammed to alert the patient or caregiver that it is time to use thatinhaler or apply the medicated cream. The patient or caregiver will haveto send a confirmation back to the pill box 10 from their associatedelectronic device that the inhaler has been used or the medicated creamhas been applied. If no such confirmation is received, then pill box 10will display a reminder on LCD display 42 and/or generate a sound orbecome illuminated so as to alert the patient or caregiver.

A method of dispensing medication to a patient thus comprises providinga pill box 10 including a housing 12 comprising a lower region 16, 32and a grid 18 engageable with lower region 16, 32; and a microprocessor30 including programming that includes a reminder schedule and a realtime tracker; providing a blister pack 14 having a plurality of vials 60b defined therein with at least some of vials 60 b being prefilled withmedication 68 (FIG. 14); and having a cover 62 extending across openingsto the plurality of vials 60, said cover 62 having lines of weakness 66proximate each vial 60; positioning blister pack 14 in the lower region16, 32 between top wall 32 a and grid 18; engaging grid 18 with lowerregion 16, 32; capturing blister pack 14 between grid 18 and lowerregion 16, 32; and activating microprocessor 30 to initiate the reminderschedule programmed therein.

The method of dispensing medication also includes illuminating one ofthe vials 60 b from which medication 68 is to be withdrawn in accordancewith the reminder schedule. The method further includes removing aportion of cover 62 from over the illuminated vial 60 b by tearing alongthe lines of weakness 66 proximate the illuminated vial; and removingmedication 68 from the illuminated vial. The method further includesissuing an alert if a portion of cover 62 is not removed from over theilluminated vial 60 b and the medication 68 is not removed from thatilluminated vial 60 b after a preset period of time. The step of issuingthe alert includes sending an electronic communication frommicroprocessor 30 to an electronic device of the patient or a caregiverof the patient and/or displaying an alert message on a display 42 onhousing 12; and/or emitting an audible sound from housing 12.

The method of dispensing medication 68 from housing 12 may furtherinclude providing an information card 72 extending outwardly from cover62 of blister pack 14, separating information card 72 from cover 62along line of weakness 74, and engaging information card 72 in a frame16 f provided on housing 12.

The method further comprises prefilling blister pack 14 with medication68 at a factory and shipping the prefilled blister pack to the patientor to a caregiver or to a medical treatment facility.

The method may further include providing information 70 relating tomedication 68 contained within blister pack 14 or a name of a patient towhom medication 68 is to be dispensed or dosing instructions relating tothe medication 68 on an exterior surface of cover 62. The information 70may be marked at repeated intervals on cover 62; wherein each intervalcorresponds to a position of one of the plurality of vials 60 b providedin blister pack 14. Grid 18 is provided with a plurality of openings 52c defined therein and openings 52 c are located so as to align with oneof vials 60 b defined in the blister pack 14; and when grid 18 is closedover blister pack 14, openings 52 c align with vials 60 b andinformation 70 provided at intervals on cover 62 and that information 70is readable through the grid openings 52 c.

The method further includes sensing with a sensor 22 located proximatethe illuminated vial 60 b whether or not medication 68 has been removedfrom that illuminated vial 60.

The method further includes removing a section of the blister pack 14from a remaining portion of the blister pack along a line of weakness 64and carrying that removed section of the blister pack 14 in a pocket orpurse. The removed section may include a single vial 60 b or a pluralityof vials 60 b (such as a sufficient number of vials for an entire day'sworth of medication 68 and an entire week's worth of medication.) Themethod may further include issuing reminders to the patient or to acaregiver of the patient to take medication from the one or more vialsdetached from the blister pack at programmed intervals.

It will be understood that illuminating lightpipes 48 in conjunctionwith illuminating LEDs 24 and the information regarding days of the week58 and time of day 56 provided on grid 18, all help a patient orcaregiver verify which vial 60 b to access in order to obtain a presentdose of medication 68. Applications '966 and '037 explain in detail howthe electronic reminder system of pill box 10 functions and so thatreminder system will not be further described herein.

The method may further include issuing, from microprocessor 30 inhousing 12 a reminder to take medication not retained within blisterpack 18. This medication may include such other medications as a dosefrom an inhaler or the application of a topical cream. The step ofissuing this reminder may include sending an alert to an electronicdevice of the patient's or an electronic device of a caregiver; ordisplaying the alert on a display screen 42 on housing 12.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity,clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to beimplied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because suchterms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadlyconstrued.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention are anexample and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown ordescribed.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A medication reminder and compliance systemcomprising: a pill box including: a housing; a microprocessor includingprogramming that includes a reminder schedule and a real time tracker; ablister pack selectively receivable within the housing; said blisterpack including a plurality of vials, each vial being prefilled withmedication; and a plurality of capacitance sensors provided in thehousing, wherein each sensor is located so as to be positioned adjacenta bottom wall of a different one of the vials of the blister pack whenthe blister pack is received within the housing; and wherein eachcapacitance sensor is operatively engaged with the microprocessorwherein the housing includes a plurality of discrete chambers, eachchamber being configured to received one of the vials from the blisterpack therein; wherein each sensor is located in the one of the chambers;and wherein each chamber has a bottom wall and the associated sensor islocated in the bottom wall.
 2. The system as defined in claim 1, whereineach vial of the blister pack is U-shaped in cross-section.
 3. Thesystem as defined in claim 1, wherein each vial of the blister pack hasa lower region that is free of corners and is rounded.
 4. The system asdefined in claim 3, wherein the sensor associated with each vial islocated beneath the lower region thereof.
 5. The system as defined inclaim 1, further comprising a plurality of LEDs, and wherein each LED ispositioned to selectively illuminate one of the vials in the blisterpack.
 6. The system as defined in claim 5, wherein the housing includesa plurality of discrete chambers and each chamber includes one of theplurality of LED's, and the LED in each chamber illuminates only thechamber in which that LED is located.
 7. The system as defined in claim1, wherein the housing includes a base and a grid pivotally engaged withthe base; and wherein the blister pack is positionable between the baseand the grid.
 8. The system as defined in claim 7, further comprising aclosure sensor positioned between a portion of the grid and a portion ofthe base; and wherein the closure sensor is operatively engaged with themicroprocessor and is activated when the blister pack is in the base andthe grid is in a closed position relative to the base.
 9. The system asdefined in claim 7, further comprising a latching mechanism that latchesthe grid to the base when the blister pack is received within thehousing.
 10. The system as defined in claim 9, wherein engaging thelatching mechanism causes each vial of the blister pack to be retainedin close proximity to the sensor associated therewith.
 11. The system asdefined in claim 7, wherein the grid defines a plurality of openingstherein; and wherein each opening is positioned to align with one of thevials in the blister pack when the blister pack is engaged in the base.12. The system as defined in claim 1, further comprising anaccelerometer located within the housing, said accelerometer being inoperative engagement with the microprocessor.
 13. The system as definedin claim 1, wherein the blister pack includes a tray having a top walland the plurality of vials are defined in the top wall; and the blisterpack further includes a cover that extends across the top wall andprevents access to the vials.
 14. The system as defined in claim 13,further comprising indicia provided on an exterior surface of the cover;wherein the indicia include information relating to one or more of apatient to whom the medication within the blister pack is to be given, apharmacy dispensing the medication within the blister pack, aprescribing physician, or dosing information.
 15. The system as definedin claim 13, wherein the tray and cover include a plurality of firstlines of weakness that enable one or more vials and a portion of thecover associated therewith to be detached from a remainder of the trayand cover.
 16. The system as defined in claim 13, wherein the coverincludes a plurality of second lines of weakness and each second line ofweakness enables a section of the cover to be removed from over anassociated one of the plurality of vials.
 17. The system as defined inclaim 13, wherein the cover includes an information card that extendsoutwardly from the tray; wherein a third line of weakness is provided inthe cover and the information card is separable from a remaining portionof the cover along the third line of weakness.
 18. The system as definedin claim 1, wherein each sensor comprises a wire trace loop.